Long Beach Half Race Report - You can run this race with no pants

 Catchy title right?

Well been a while since I checked in with a race report.

Coming off the San Jose Rock N Roll, which I finished in 2:17, I was looking forward to at least equaling or bettering the time in Long Beach.  However, I have been nursing a persistent piriformis overuse injury which still has yet to fully heal, but will at least allow me to run halfs.

Now where do the pants come in?  I always do my runs in running pants, instead of shorts because 1)  My legs are so white, Ike Turner would snort them, and 2) skin issues would certainly terrify young children

I had driven down Saturday to go to the expo, get my packet and got checked into the hotel.  I pinned up my race shirt and settled down for an early night.  However, I neglected to fully check my gear bag to lay out my pants.  Alarm goes off at 3:30, I get myself prepared, go to my bag and there's no pants.  I re-check my other bags, no pants.  OH #@$%.  What the hell am I gonna run in? Jeans?  Yea right.  After determining there's no 24 hr Wal-marts or K-Marts nearby, I was left with 1 option.  I usually sleep in sweatshorts, unless its really cold.  I've had them for years and they are a bit too big on me.  But they were my only option.  I get dressed, head down to the shuttle and pray that no one gets a sight of something they shouldn't.

Honestly, I've seen ppl dressed in worse, so I was trying to keep my self-consciousness at bay.  Because the shorts were too big, I had to rely on my water belt keeping them up, but I was still in great fear the next stride would have them coming down.

The race starts and I take off, cruising through the first few miles.  Taking a tour of the Long Beach harbor, Queen Mary and some really steep freeway on-ramps.  The course wound itself back to the start, so I made a pitstop at Mile 6 and then continued on for the next couple miles along the beach, which was great.  Weather was perfect for running, very little wind, overcast skies, couldn't have been better.  After the beach portion ends, the course comes around down Ocean Blvd for the stretch run.  My legs didn't quite have the spring or speed I wanted them too, so I finished in 2:24:02.  Not terrible, but still 10 minutes off my PR and 7 slower than SJ.

Rule of thumb: Always check your gear bag early to make sure you packed your pants!

Brian
~350

"My legs are so white, Ike Turner would snort them..."


HAAAA!!!    

That's great, I love it!!  And yes, I totally clicked on it to read if people were really running without pants!!

I've noticed that I'm pretty routine oriented when it comes to my race days...down to the littlest detail (I've only race in certain underwear...because yes, I'm convinced they make me run faster!!)....glad I'm not the only one!!

Congrats on your race Brian!!

Good job with the race, Brian,   I've forgotten my cycling helmet at one event and my bike shoes at another.  Sometimes you can find someone with an extra helmet, but minus shoes you can't do much.  So like you I double check my bag before heading out now.
Rob

The thing I always forget is my wetsuit. I've had to go back for it twice now.

Anyway, in my first race, a 5k, my pants actually did start falling down! I spent the first mile yanking them up over and over until they finally settled into a spot they wouldn't move form.

So, at least you were spared that. Heh, heh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjFsezmhjjY

This one is even better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hUHmiEFA8&list=QL&feature=B F

Great Job Brian,

Congrats on making it through even with the wardrobe malfunction.  You and Janet Jackson ehh..